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Reassessing the function of immune-complex retention by follicular dendritic cells
Ann M Haberman1, Mark J Shlomchik
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA. ann.haberman@yale.edu
Abstract:
The close association of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) and germinal-centre B cells has fostered the idea that B-cell recognition of retained antigen that is presented on the surface of FDCs is important for affinity maturation and memory B-cell development. We argue that the retention of immune complexes is not required for germinal-centre development, affinity maturation and memory B-cell maintenance. Instead, it is probable that FDCs support B-cell proliferation and differentiation in a non-specific manner. Other potential roles of immune complexes retained by FDCs are discussed.